Enabling Simpler, Quieter, And More Precise Wearables Utilizing Disruptive Pump Technology

Patient-centric design is essential in wearable medical devices, where comfort, accuracy, and reliability directly impact user adherence and clinical outcomes. Designers face the challenge of creating smaller, quieter, and more precise systems that remain robust under diverse conditions. The Lee Company’s disc pump technology is helping to meet these demands, enabling new possibilities in devices such as ambulatory blood pressure monitors (ABPM).

Unlike traditional motor-driven pumps, disc pumps use a piezoelectric micropump to generate high-frequency acoustic waves, producing virtually pulsation-free airflow. This allows for measurement during cuff inflation, reducing compression forces and improving patient comfort. The rapid response and precise control of the disc pump eliminate the need for check valves or proportional venting, streamlining system architecture and minimizing device footprint.

In ABPM systems, integrating a disc pump into a compact, arm-worn module has resulted in silent operation, improved measurement accuracy, and MRI-compatible designs. Beyond blood pressure monitoring, disc pumps are finding applications across compression therapy, drug delivery, sleep apnea monitoring, breath diagnostics, and more, supporting miniaturized and patient-friendly wearable devices.

With over 75 years of fluid control expertise, The Lee Company supports medical device designers through development kits, engineer-to-engineer collaboration, and global technical support. Their disc pump technology empowers innovators to overcome traditional design constraints, creating wearable devices that enhance usability, clinical performance, and patient satisfaction while maintaining the highest reliability standards.